Media File Sharing, Correlation Of Metadata Related To Shared Media Files And Assembling Shared Media File Collections

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides for systems and methods for communicating media files and creating a collection of media files, also referred to herein as a master media file. In addition, the systems and methods of the present invention provide for the creation of automatic metadata and compilation of metadata associated with the collection of media files. The present invention is able to bond devices, referred to herein as slave devices, such as media capture devices, presence devices and/or sensor devices and instruct the slave devices, particularly the media capture devices, to communicate captured media files with a specified set of metadata included.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/749,652, filed Dec. 31, 2003, which is hereby incorporated herein inits entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to digital communication and, morespecifically, to an application for providing media file sharing,correlation and aggregation of metadata related to shared media filesand assembly of shared media files collections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The rapid growth of digital communication has made it possible for allkinds of digital media items to be communicated amongst various types ofwireless and wire line communication devices. For instance, the cellularor mobile telephone is no longer limited to telephonic voicecommunication and may include other means of digital communication, suchas digital networking (i.e., Internet communication, text messaging, andthe like). In addition, an increasing number of cellular telephones andother mobile wireless communication devices, such as portable computers,personal data assistants (PDAs) and the like, are being integrated withother means of capturing or producing digital media, such as digitalcameras, digital audio recorders, digital video recorders and the like.Technological advances have made it possible for other digital devices,such as digital cameras, digital video recorders, digital audio devicesand the like to be equipped with means for digital communication. Asmore and more digital devices possess the capability to digitallycommunicate with one another, the amount of digital media items thatwill be communicated amongst these devices will increase at an alarmingrate.

In addition to the onset of more and more digital devices possessingdigital communication capabilities and/or digital media capturecapabilities; the digital storage capacity of these devices isconstantly increasing. In the near future the majority of mobile digitalcommunication terminals may well be equipped with storage capacity inthe gigabyte range or greater, allowing these devices to store anenormous amount of digital data. In this environment it will no longerbe prohibitive from a memory capacity standpoint to store a voluminousamount of large file types, such as video, audio or other multimediafiles.

In the digital communication environment where more and more digitaldevices, both wireless and wired, are equipped with a means for digitalcommunication and/or digital media capture and where the storagecapacity of these devices has become seemingly endless, the digitalcommunication device will encounter and store innumerable digital mediafiles. As such, the digital communication device will desire a means toaccess, store, manage and further communicate these digital files in anefficient and user-friendly environment.

Wireless digital communication has recently experienced a growth due tothe onset of new technologies, such as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi (also known as802.11) and other wireless local area networks (WLANs). These newtechnologies have provided an alternative in wireless networking overthe previous fixed long-range microwave transmitter based delivery ofnetwork connections.

Bluetooth® is a wireless specification delivering short-range radiocommunication between electronic devices that are equipped withspecialized Bluetooth-enabled semiconductor chips. It lets nearly alldevices talk to one another by creating a common language between them.All electronic devices such as cellular phones, personal data assistants(PDAs), pagers, and any other device equipped with the Bluetooth-enabledchip can communicate and connect using Bluetooth® technology to form aprivate, personal area network (PAN). The devices carryingBluetooth-enabled chips can easily transfer data at a rate of about 720Kbps (kilobits per second) within 10 meters (33 feet) of range throughwalls, clothing and other objects. The interaction between devicesoccurs by itself without direct human intervention whenever they arewithin each other's range. In this process, the software technologyembedded in the Bluetooth® transceiver chip, referred to as linkcontroller, triggers an automatic connection to deliver and accept thedata flow.

Whenever devices carrying Bluetooth® technology are within each other'srange, they create an automatic ad hoc PAN (personal area network)called a piconet. In this arrangement, one device acts as the “master”,while other devices function as “slaves”. A piconet normally carries upto eight devices. The master device decides if a particularcommunication service is needed from a slave device. At the time when aconnection is made between Bluetooth® devices, an exchange of uniqueBluetooth identity called global ID takes place. A device global IDindicates its profile along with capability functions. Upon matching ofthe device profile a connection is made and as the devices exchangedata, the Bluetooth® transceiver chip hops back and forth amongfrequencies.

Bluetooth's key features are robustness, low complexity, low power andlow cost. Designed to operate in noisy frequency environments, theBluetooth-enabled devices use a fast acknowledgement and frequencyhopping scheme to make the link robust. Because Bluetooth-enableddevices operate in the unlicensed ISM band at 2.4 GHz, they avoidinterference from other signals by hopping to a new frequency aftertransmitting or receiving a packet.

Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) is used to describe products that follow the802.11 set of standards developed by the Institute of Electrical andElectronic Engineers (IEEE). The most popular of these is 802.11b, whichoperates in the 2.4 GHz band and transfers data at 111 megabits persecond (Mbps). The emerging 802.11a standard operates in the 5 GHz bandand can transfer data up to 54 Mbps. These technologies have a range ofabout 300 feet. Wi-Fi enabled devices can send and receive datawirelessly from any location equipped with Wi-Fi access. Wi-Fi access isprovided through access points, installed within a Wi-Fi location, thattransmit an RF signal to Wi-Fi enabled devices that are within range ofthe access point, which is about 300 feet. The speed of the transmissionis governed by the speed of the pipeline fed into the access point.

These advanced wireless communication mediums make it possible fordigital communication devices to communicate and transfer informationbetween all devices within the wireless local area network (WLAN). Sincerecognition of devices in the WLAN is automatic, the amount ofinformation that can be exchanged between communication devices in aWLAN environment is limitless.

Thus, the need exists to develop a system, application and method forsharing media files, correlating the metadata information related to theshared media files and assembling a collection of the shared. Thedesired application will be implemented on any digital communicationdevice capable of communicating in some form of wireless local areanetwork. A further need exists to develop an application that willprovide the ability to automatically receive and transfer media files toother devices within the wireless local area network.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for systems and methods for communicatingmedia files and creating a collection of media files, also referred toherein as a master media file. In addition, the systems and methods ofthe present invention provide for the creation of automatic metadata andcompilation of metadata associated with the collection of media files.The present invention is able to bond devices, referred to herein asslave devices, such as media capture devices, presence devices and/orsensor devices and instruct the slave devices, particularly the mediacapture devices, to communicate captured media files with a specifiedset of metadata included. In addition the invention is capable ofcollecting media files and related media file metadata in a media filecollection application, which correlates and/or combines the media filesand the related media file metadata to result in a master media file andan associated master metadata file. The master media file and mastermetadata data file may be communicated back to the slave devices or itmay be communicated to other non-bonded devices.

In one embodiment of the invention a digital device, typically a mobileterminal is defined. The device includes a data processor and acommunication transceiver in communication with the data processor thatis capable of monitoring an environment and receiving communicationsfrom one or more devices in the environment. The data processor willexecute a bonding application that provides for the bonding of thedigital device to devices in the environment and provides forrecordation of information related to the bonded devices and informationrelated to the users of the bonded devices. The data processor willadditionally execute a media transfer application that provides for thecreation of media file transfer parameters that include instructions forcreation of media file metadata information. The media file transferparameters will typically be communicated from the digital device to thebonded devices. The media file transfer parameters may additionallyinclude instructions for transmitting media files captured at the bondeddevices. The device will additionally include a memory unit that is incommunication with the data processor and stores the informationrecorded by the bonding application as bonded device metadatainformation.

The digital device may be configured to include a media capture device,such as a camera, video recorder, audio recorder or the like, or thedigital device may be configured without a media capture device. In oneembodiment that includes a media capture device, the digital device mayinclude a display and a grouping application executed by the processor.The grouping application may provide for display of a group mode menustructure that allows a device user to define a group event. In additionthe grouping application may provide for creation of a group file forstorage of media files associated with the event. Alternatively, thegrouping application may provide for display of a group mode menustructure that allows a user to communicate stored media files and mediafile metadata information to the bonded devices or to automaticallycommunicate, upon capture, media files and media file metadatainformation to the bonded devices.

The digital device may additional include a metadata correlationapplication that combines the captured media file metadata informationwith the bonded device metadata information. In this regard, thecommunication transceiver will communicate the captured media files andthe combined metadata to remote devices. The remote devices may be thebonded devices, non-bonded devices or a combination of bonded andnon-bonded devices as defined by the digital device and/or the bondeddevices. Instructions on which remote devices will receive the files andmetadata may be defined in the bonded device metadata information.

The digital device may additionally include a media file collectionapplication that organizes media files received from the one or morebonded devices according to the media file metadata information.

The invention is further embodied in a method for wireless bonding ofdevices and communicating media file transfer parameters. The methodincludes the steps of monitoring, at a master device, an area ofinterest for the presence of potential bondable devices and receiving,at the master device, a presence signal from a potential bondabledevice. Upon receipt of the presence signal a determination is made asto the bond capability of the potential bondable device and approval ornon-approval of the potential bondable device occurs. The determinationof the capabilities may occur at the master device or at the potentialbondable device. Once a device is bonded or while the approval processis occurring, the master device will communicate to the bonded devicemedia file transfer parameters, including definition of the media filemetadata that is to be included with a captured media file. The mediafile transfer parameters may additionally include the destinationaddresses for communicating captured media files. The destinationaddress may include the master device or intermediary devices.

An alternate embodiment of the invention is defined by a method forcommunicating media files and associated media file metadata from abonded device to a master device. The method comprises bonding the slavedevice to a master device according to predetermined media file transferparameters and communicating media files from the bonded devices toremote devices, the media files having metadata information as definedby the predetermined media file transfer parameters. The remote devicesmay include the master device or other auxiliary devices. The method mayfurther include the step of combining, at one of the remote devices, themedia files into a master media file and combining, at one of the remotedevices, the metadata information of the media files into a mastermetadata file. The method may also include the step of recording, at themaster device, metadata information related to the one or more bondeddevices and the step of correlating, at the remote devices, the bondeddevice metadata information with the media file metadata information.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a method is defined forcommunicating media files and associated media file metadata from amaster device to a bonded device. The method includes the steps ofbonding remote devices to a master device according to predeterminedmedia file transfer parameters and recording, at the master device,bonded device metadata information. The method further includes thesteps of creating a media file at the master device having associatedmedia file metadata information and communicating the media file, themedia file metadata and the bonded device metadata information from themaster device to the bonded devices. The method may further include thestep of combining, at the master device, the bonded device metadatainformation and the media file metadata information.

The invention is also embodied in a system for communicating media filesand assembling a collection of associated media files. The systemincludes a master device that monitors an environment for slave devicesand includes a processor that executes a bonding application to bond themaster device to slave devices, a memory device in communication withthe processor that stores metadata information related to slave devicesand the users of the slave devices and a media transfer application thatprovides for media file transfer parameters that include instructionsfor creation of media file metadata information. The media file transferparameters will typically be communicated from the master device to theslave devices. The system additionally includes slave devices that arebonded to the master device by successful execution of the bondingapplication. The slave devices may communicate the captured media filesto the devices by wireless communication including, but not limited to,Bluetooth, wireless local area network (WLAN), radio frequencyidentification (RFID) and wireless telecom network.

In one embodiment of the system the slave devices capture media filesand communicate the captured media files to remote devices that includeprocessors that execute a media file collection application. The remotedevice may be the master device or an auxiliary device. The media filecollection application typically includes a computer readable storagemedium having computer-readable program instructions embodied in themedium. The computer-readable program instructions may includeinstructions for categorizing the media files in relation to themetadata information, instructions for assembling the media files in amaster media file, instructions for communicating the master media fileto the slave devices and/or non-bonded devices, instructions forcombining metadata related to the captured media files to form a mastermetadata file.

In an alternate embodiment of the system the master device will includea media capture device that captures media files having associated mediafile metadata information. In such embodiments, the master device mayinclude a grouping application; the group application is executed by theprocessor and provides for display of a group mode menu structure thatallows a device user to define a group event, store media filesassociated with the event in a group file and communicate stored mediafiles and media file metadata information to the bonded devices.Additionally, the grouping application may allow a device user to selectan automatic communication mode that automatically communicates, uponcapture, media files and media file metadata information to the bondeddevices.

The slave devices may communicate the captured media files to one ormore devices by wireless communication chosen from the group consistingof Bluetooth, wireless local area network (WLAN), radio frequencyidentification (RFID) and wireless telecom network.

A further embodiment of the invention is defined by a system forcommunicating media files and assembling a collection of media files.The system includes a master device that provides bonding capability, amedia file collection application in communication with the masterdevice and slave devices that bond with the master device andcommunicate with the master device during a bond period. The slavedevices capture media files during the bond period and communicate thecaptured media files and associated media file metadata to the mediafile collection application. The media file collection applicationincludes a computer readable storage medium having computer-readableprogram instructions embodied in the medium. The computer-readableprogram instructions include instructions for combining a plurality ofmedia files communicated from the one or more slave devices to form acollection of media files associated with the bond period. The slavedevices will typically capture media files during the bond period andcommunicate the captured media files and associated media file metadatato the master device or an auxiliary device.

The media file collection application may further include instructionsfor correlating the media file metadata, and/or the media file metadataand calendar event data, instructions for combining the media filemetadata to form a master metadata file related to the media filescaptured during the bond period.

Thus, the present invention provides for a system for bonding deviceswithin the general vicinity of one another and communicating media filesfrom one device to another, such that the communicated media files canbe assembled in a collection and the metadata associated with thedevices and the files can be correlated and combined in a mastermetadata file. The collection of media files and/or master metadata filecan then be communicated back to the bonded device or communicated toother non-bonded devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will nowbe made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn toscale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a digital devices in media file sharingsystem, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a master device/digital device, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of digital devices in a media file sharingsystem, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a media file sharing system and a methodfor collecting media files, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an alternate media file sharing system anda method for collecting media files, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an alternate media file sharing system anda method for collecting media files, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 7A-7C are flow diagrams of alternate methods for bonding a masterdevice and one or more slave devices and the collection of metadata, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an example of a media diary view asdisplayed by a media file collection application, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not allembodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, these inventions may beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limitedto the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legalrequirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The present invention provides for digital devices, methods and systemsfor media file sharing. In one embodiment of the invention, a system formedia file sharing is defined by a digital communication device, hereinreferred to as a master device, and one or more remote digitalcommunication devices, such as media capturing devices, presencedevices, sensors or the like, referred to as slave devices. While inmany embodiments the slave devices will incorporate digital mediacapture means, such as image capture, video capture, audio capture orthe like, it is not required for the purposes of the system of thepresent invention that the slave devices be equipped with a digitalmedia capture device. While in many embodiments the master device willincorporate digital media capture, such as image capture, video capture,audio capture or the like, it is not required for the purposes of thesystem of the present invention that the master device be equipped witha digital media capture device.

The media file sharing system of the present invention is typicallyrelevant to media events that warrant media capture. For example, amedia event such as a birthday celebration, a wedding, an award ceremonyor the like typically warrants media capture and the attendees at theevent typically have a desire to possess the media files associated withthe event. Rather than have the attendees capture the event in somedigital form and then share files either manually or electronically atsome point in time well after the event, the present invention providesfor the media files to be immediately conveyed, from the slave devicesto a master device, upon creation. The master device or an auxiliarydevice can then optionally assemble the files into an event collectionand communicate the event collection back to the slave devices at ornear the conclusion of the event. As such, the present invention servesto efficiently disseminate the media files associated with the event toall attendees who desire a comprehensive media file collection.

FIG. 1 provides for an exemplary illustration of the system for mediafile sharing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.The system 10 will include a master device 20. In the illustratedembodiment the master device is a personal data assistant (PDA),however, the master device may be any other digital device capable ofwireline or wireless communication, such as a cellular telephone, laptopcomputer, desktop computer, server computer, a digital camera equippedwith wireless communication means or the like. As previously noted, themaster device does not necessarily need to be equipped with conventionalmedia capture means, such as a camera, camcorder, or audio recorder.

The master device is in wireless communication with a plurality of slavedevices 40A-40E, many of which are equipped with digital capturedevices, such as a digital camera 40A, digital camcorder 40B, cameraequipped cellular telephone 40C, audio recording devices (not shown inFIG. 1) or the like. It is also possible for the slave devices to bedigital devices that communicate wirelessly but are limited to capturing(i.e., storing) text files, such as laptop computer 40D, PDA 40E or thelike. The slave devices may also be sensors that communicate sensorinformation wirelessly to the master device. Sensor information may betemperature, air pressure, weather, altitude, location information orthe like. The slave devices may also be presence devices, i.e., devicesthat can inform of their presence at some location or area but are notnecessarily capable of capturing or transmitting media files. Inalternate embodiments, the master device and plurality of slave devicesmay be in conventional wireline communication.

The master device and the one or more slave devices will communicate viaany standard form of wireless or wireline communication. For example, inthe wireless scenario, the master device and slave device maycommunicate via Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi (802.11), any LPRF (low power radiofrequency) network, wireless telecom network, wireless local areanetwork, radio frequency identification (RFID) or the like. The masterdevice determines if a particular communication service is availablefrom a slave device. For example, in a Bluetooth® environment, at thetime when a connection is made between Bluetooth® devices, an exchangeof unique Bluetooth® identities, called global IDs, takes place. Adevice's global ID indicates its profile and functional capability. Uponmatching of the device profile a connection is made and as the devicesexchange data, the Bluetooth® transceiver chip hops back and forth amongfrequencies. In the Wi-Fi embodiment, Wi-Fi access is provided throughaccess points, installed within a Wi-Fi location, that transmit an RFsignal to Wi-Fi enabled devices that are within range of the accesspoint, which is about 300 feet.

FIG. 2 provides a block diagram of the master device 20, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. The master device willinclude a data processor 22, a communication transceiver 24, typically ashort-range transceiver, in communication with the data processor thatis capable of monitoring an environment and receiving communicationsfrom one or more devices in the environment and a memory unit 26. Thedata processor will execute a bonding application 27 that provides forthe bonding of the digital device to devices in the environment.Additionally the bonding application will provide for recordation ofinformation related to the bonded devices and recordation of informationrelated to the users of the bonded devices. The master device willadditionally include a media transfer application 28 that is executed bythe data processor and provides for media file transfer parameters thatinclude instructions for creation of media file metadata information.The memory unit 26 will store the information recorded by the bondingapplication as bonded device metadata information.

The media transfer application may further provide for the media filetransfer parameters to be communicated to the bonded devices. The mediafile transfer parameters may further include instructions fortransmitting media files captured at the one or more bonded devices.

Optionally, the master device 20 may include a media file collectionapplication 30 executed by the data processor 22 that organizes mediafiles received from the bonded devices according to the media filemetadata information. In alternate embodiments, the media filecollection application may be implemented by auxiliary devices that arein communication with the master device. Also, optionally, the masterdevice may include a metadata correlation application that combines thecaptured media file metadata information with the bonded device metadatainformation.

FIG. 3 provides for an exemplary illustration of an alternate system formedia file sharing, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The system 80 includes multiple digital devices 82A-82F eachhaving an associated media capture device 84A-84F. The multiple digitaldevices will bond with one or more devices in the proximate area andshare media files captured by the associated media capture device. Forthe sake of clarity the FIG. 3 embodiment only has arrows illustratingbonding between digital device 82A and the surrounding digital devicesand 82E and the surrounding devices.

The digital devices in the FIG. 3 embodiment function in a similarfashion to the master device in the FIG. 1 embodiment. In that, thedigital devices will include a data processor 22, a communicationtransceiver 24, typically a short-range transceiver, in communicationwith the data processor that is capable of monitoring an environment andreceiving communications from one or more devices in the environment anda memory unit 26. The data processor will execute a bonding application27 that provides for the bonding of the digital device to the otherdigital devices in the environment. Additionally the bonding applicationwill provide for recordation of information related to the bondeddevices and recordation of information related to the users of thebonded devices. The memory unit 26 will store the information recordedby the bonding application as bonded device metadata information.

Additionally, the digital device in the FIG. 3 system may include adisplay and a grouping application that executed by the data processor.The group application is executed by the processor and provides fordisplay of a group mode menu structure that allows a device user todefine a group event. Additionally, the group application may providefor the creation of group files that store media files associated withthe event and the group application may provide for communication of thestored media files and media file metadata information to bondeddevices. Alternatively the grouping application may automaticallycommunicate, upon capture by the digital device, media files and mediafile metadata information to the bonded devices.

FIGS. 4-6 are block diagrams that detail the communication and mediafile sharing process between a master device and slave devices, inaccordance with multiple embodiments of the present invention. Theembodiments depicted in FIGS. 4-6 differ based on the device thatimplements an optional media file collection application and method forcommunicating the media files to the device that implements the optionalcollection application. It is noted that methods for bonding the slavedevices to the master device are not depicted nor described in thissection of the detailed disclosure. FIGS. 7A-7C, which will be discussedat length infra. relate to various methods for bonding slave devices toa master device.

FIG. 4 details an embodiment of the invention in which an optional mediafile collection application 30 is implemented within the master device20. The master device 20 will monitor an area of interest to identifypotential slave devices 40. Monitoring the area of interest willtypically require the master device to receive signals (i.e. presenceinformation) from potential slave devices that are within closeproximity of the master device. Stage 1 of the FIG. 4 embodimentindicates the transmission of presence information from the potentialslave devices to the master device.

Upon receipt of the identifying signals, the master device 20 willdetermine if the signals are coming from a new slave device, which hasyet to be bonded to the media file collection application. If the deviceis identified as a new slave device, the master device will send out asignal asking for bonding of the potential slave device and informingthe device of the media file transfer parameters and informationtransfer parameters. Stage 2 of the FIG. 4 embodiment indicatestransmission of media file transfer parameters from the master device tothe slave devices 40.

The media file transfer parameters and the information transferparameters may be preconfigured in the master device and/or media filecollection application or they may be defined by the user of the masterdevice. Typically, the master device will send a bond request that mayinclude, but is not limited to, the following bond request and mediafile transfer parameters:

-   -   1. Identification information, such as the address, of the        master device, identification of the master device user or the        like.    -   2. Predefined file transfer criteria, such as:        -   automatically after the slave captures a media file.        -   automatically when the slave device enters a certain            network, (such as a Bluetooth network, wireline network or            the like).        -   automatically at predetermined time intervals.        -   manually at the directive of the user of the slave device.        -   manually at the request of the master device.    -   3. Transmission link for transferring media files; such as        Bluetooth, WLAN, wireless telecom, wireline network etc.    -   4. Transmission format to be used in communicating the media        files; such as multimedia messaging service (MMS), file        transmission, etc.    -   5. Predefined bond duration criteria, such as:        -   continuous, based on the slave device remaining within a            specified proximity of the master device.        -   a predefined time period.    -   6. Transfer destination and address of the destination device,        such as:        -   to the master device.        -   to other device(s).    -   7. Acceptable format of the media file, such as:        -   JPEG, TIF, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 or the like.    -   8. Metadata instructions, such as:        -   metadata information to be included and/or excluded.        -   identification information of the event.    -   9. Transmission information for sensor devices, such as:        -   transmit criteria (i.e. define when to transmit).        -   transmission link.        -   transmission destination.

The listing of media file transfer parameters is by way of example onlyand is not intended to be an exhaustive listing. Other media filetransfer parameters may be defined within the master device and/or mediafile collection application, as dictated by the master device and/ormedia file collection application configuration or the user of themaster device and/or media file collection application. Additionally,the file transfer parameters may define the slave devices designated toreceive captured media files or a subsequently assembled collection ofmedia files. Also, the file transfer parameters may define requirementsthat the captured media files or a collection of media files betransmitted to a intermediary device, which may implement a media filecollection application or some other form of a media file managementapplication.

Once the bond request and media file transfer parameters have beencommunicated to potential slave devices 40, the potential slave devicewill signal the master device and the master device will determine ifthe potential slave device is approved for bonding. See FIG. 7 and thediscussion related to FIG. 7 for further details on alternate methodsfor bonding.

Once the master device and the slave device have completed the bondprocess, the slave devices 40 will transmit information to the masterdevice related to how collected media files will be shared. For example,the slave device may desire that the collection of media files be sentto the slave device itself or to a secondary non-bonded device. In thisregard, the slave device will send to the master device the address ofthe receiving device (i.e., the device that will receive the collectionof media files). In addition, the bonded slave device may sendinformation to the master device related to collection editingparameters, i.e., requesting that certain media files be omitted oraugmented before the master device communicates the collection to theslave device or to the slave-device designated non-bonded device. Inaddition, the information transmitted from the slave device to themaster may include when to share the files (such as at certain time), orby request, in which file format, or via which network. Stage 3 of theFIG. 4 embodiment indicates the communication of this sharinginformation from the slave devices to the master device.

Once the master device 20 has bonded with one or more slave devices andthe sharing information has been exchanged, the master device willreceive media file communications from the bonded slave devices inaccordance with the file transfer parameters. The media filescommunicated from the slave device to the master device may includeimage files, video files, audio files, text documents, multimediapresentations and the like. Stage 4 of the FIG. 4 embodiment indicatesthe communication of media files from the slave device to the masterdevice.

Upon receipt of the media files, the master device 20 may automaticallyor by master device user request communicate the media file to theoptional media file collection application being implemented on themaster device. The optional media file collection application willcorrelate the media file metadata information with the slave devicemetadata information and, in certain embodiments, with calendar eventmetadata information. The correlated metadata will provide forsearchable data in the media file collection application database, thus,allowing for the media files to be readily searched based on informationassociated with the file, the slave device from which it was transmittedand/or the calendar event associated with the file.

In certain embodiments, once the master device has collected media filesfrom multiple slave devices and transmitted the collected media files tothe optional media file collection application, the media filecollection application will assemble a comprehensive media filecollection related to the event that includes all, or a portion of, themedia files associated with the event. In this regard, the user of theoptional media file collection application may edit the media files toaugment the media files or eliminate certain media files from thecomprehensive media file collection. The media file collectionapplication may be configured to automatically or by request communicatethe comprehensive media file collection to one of the bonded slavedevices, a portion of the bonded slave devices or all of the bondedslave devices. Determination of which bonded devices receive thecollection of media files may be determined by the sharing informationtransmitted from the bonded slave device to the master device, asdetailed in Stage 3 discussion above. Stage 5 of the FIG. 4 embodimentindicates the process of sharing (i.e., communicating) the collected andedited media files from the master device to the slave devices.

Alternatively, the media file collection may be communicated to othernon-bonded devices 50 based on configuration of the master device,master device user request or as requested by a bonded slave device perStage 3 discussed above. Stage 5.1 of the FIG. 4 embodiment indicatesthe process of sharing (i.e., communicating) the collected and editedmedia files to other non-bonded devices, such as a PC, PDA, server,mobile telephone, etc. Additionally, the media file collection may becommunicated to another secondary media file collection application 60that is typically implemented on an external device. Stage 6 of the FIG.4 embodiment indicates the communication of the combined media filesfrom the master device to a secondary media application.

FIG. 5 details an embodiment of the invention in which an optional mediafile collection application 30 is implemented in an intermediary device70 external from the master device 20. Stages 1-4 of the FIG. 5embodiment are identical to Stages 1-4 of the FIG. 4 embodiment. Themaster device 20 will monitor an area of interest to identify potentialslave devices 40. Stage 1 of the FIG. 5 embodiment indicates thetransmission of presence information from the potential slave devices tothe master device.

Upon receipt of the identifying signals and determination of the slavedevice 40 being a “new” signaling slave device, the master device 20will send out a signal asking for bonding of the potential slave deviceand informing the device of the media file transfer parameters andinformation transfer parameters. Stage 2 of the FIG. 5 embodimentindicates transmission of media file transfer parameters from the masterdevice to the slave devices.

Once the bond request and media file transfer parameters have beencommunicated to potential slave devices 40, the potential slave devicewill signal the master device and the master device will determine ifthe potential slave device is approved for bonding. See FIG. 7 and thediscussion related to FIG. 7 for further details on alternate methodsfor bonding.

Once the master device and the slave device have completed the bondprocess, the slave devices 40 will transmit information to the masterdevice related to how collected media files will be shared. For example,the slave device may desire that the collection of media files be sentto the slave device itself or to a secondary non-bonded device. In thisregard, the slave device will send to the master device the address ofthe receiving device (i.e., the device that will receive the collectionof media files). In addition, the bonded slave device may sendinformation to the master device related to collection editingparameters, i.e., requesting that certain media files be omitted oraugmented before the master device communicates the collection to theslave device or to the slave-device designated non-bonded device. Inaddition, the information transmitted from the slave device to themaster may include when to share the files (such as at certain time), orby request, in which file format, or via which network. Stage 3 of theFIG. 3 embodiment indicates the communication of sharing informationfrom the slave devices to the master device.

Once the master device 20 has bonded with one or more slave devices andthe sharing information has been exchanged, the master device willreceive media file communications from the bonded slave devices inaccordance with the file transfer parameters. Stage 4 of the FIG. 5embodiment indicates the communication of media files from the slavedevice to the master device.

Upon receipt of the media files, the master device 40 may automaticallyor by master device user request communicate the media file to theoptional media file collection application 30 being implemented on anintermediary device 70 external from the master device. Depending onconfiguration, the master device may individually, upon receipt,communicate media files to the intermediary device, or the master devicemay store and communicate, at once, all of the media files receivedduring a bond session or the master device may accumulate apredetermined quantity (either number or file size) of media files andthen communicate them to the optional media file collection application.In addition, the master device will communicate to the intermediarydevice information related to how the collected media files will befurther communicated (i.e., the instructions received from the slavedevices at Stage 3). Stage 5 of the FIG. 5 embodiment indicates thecommunication of media files and sharing information from the masterdevice to the intermediary device implementing the media file collectionapplication.

The external media file collection application will correlate the mediafile metadata information with the slave device metadata informationand, in certain embodiments, with calendar event metadata information.The correlated metadata will provide for searchable data in the mediafile collection application database, thus, allowing for the media filesto be readily searched based on information associated with the file,the slave device from which it was transmitted and/or the calendar eventassociated with the file.

Similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 and described above, oncethe external media file collection application has collected mediafiles, the media file collection application will assemble acomprehensive media file collection related to the event that includesall, or a portion of, the media files associated with the event. In thisregard, the user of media file collection application can edit the mediafiles to augment the media files or eliminate certain media files fromthe comprehensive media file collection. The optional media filecollection application may be configured to automatically or by requestcommunicate the comprehensive media file collection to one of the bondedslave devices, a portion of the bonded slave devices or all of thebonded slave devices according to the sharing information from Stage 3.Stage 6.1 of the FIG. 5 embodiment indicates the process of sharing(i.e., communicating) the collected and edited media files from themaster device to the slave devices.

Alternatively, the media file collection may be communicated to othernon-bonded devices 50 based on configuration of the master device,master device user request or as requested by a bonded slave device.Stage 6.0 of the FIG. 5 embodiment indicates the process of sharing(i.e., communicating) the collected and edited media files to othernon-bonded devices, such as a PC, PDA, server, mobile telephone, etc.

FIG. 6 details another alternate embodiment of the invention in which anoptional media file collection application 30 is implemented in anintermediary device 70 external from the master device 20. The FIG. 6embodiment differs from the FIG. 5 embodiment, in that, the slavesdevices are instructed to communicate the media files directly to theexternal device implementing the media file collection application, asopposed to communicating the media to the master device. Stages 1-3 ofthe FIG. 6 embodiment are identical to Stages 1-2 of the FIG. 4 and FIG.5 embodiments. The master device 20 will monitor an area of interest toidentify potential slave devices 40. Stage 1 of the FIG. 6 embodimentindicates the transmission of presence information from the potentialslave devices to the master device.

Upon receipt of the identifying signals and determination of the slavedevice 40 being a “new” signaling slave device, the master device 20will send out a signal asking for bonding of the potential slave deviceand informing the device of the media file transfer parameters andinformation transfer parameters. Stage 2 of the FIG. 6 embodimentindicates transmission of media file transfer parameters from the masterdevice to the slave devices.

Once the bond request and media file transfer parameters have beencommunicated to potential slave devices 40, the potential slave devicewill signal the master device and the master device will determine ifthe potential slave device is approved for bonding. See FIG. 7 and thediscussion related to FIG. 7 for further details on alternate methodsfor bonding.

Once the master device and the slave device have completed the bondprocess, the slave devices 40 will transmit information to the masterdevice related to how collected media files will be shared. For example,the slave device may desire that the collection of media files be sentto the slave device itself or to a secondary non-bonded device. In thisregard, the slave device will send to the master device the address ofthe receiving device (i.e., the device that will receive the collectionof media files). In addition, the bonded slave device may sendinformation to the master device related to collection editingparameters, i.e., requesting that certain media files be omitted oraugmented before the master device communicates the collection to theslave device or to the slave-device designated non-bonded device. Inaddition, the information transmitted from the slave device to themaster may include when to share the files (such as at certain time), orby request, in which file format, or via which network. Stage 3 of theFIG. 6 embodiment indicates the communication of sharing informationfrom the slave devices to the master device. Alternatively the sharinginformation may be directly communicated to an intermediary device 70,which implements the media file collection application.

Once the master device 20 has bonded with one or more slave devices andthe sharing information has been exchanged, an intermediary device 70,which implements the optional media file collection application 30, willreceive media file communications from the bonded slave devices inaccordance with the file transfer parameters. In this scenario, themaster device has instructed the slave devices, via the file transferparameters, to communicate the media files to the intermediary device.Stage 4 of the FIG. 6 embodiment indicates the communication of mediafiles from the slave devices to the intermediary device.

In addition, the master device 20 will communicate to the intermediarydevice information related to how the collected media files will befurther communicated (i.e., the instructions received from the slavedevices). Stage 5 of the FIG. 6 embodiment indicates the communicationof sharing information from the master device to the intermediary deviceimplementing the external media file collection application.

The external media file collection application will correlate the mediafile metadata information with the slave device metadata informationand, in certain embodiments, with calendar event metadata information.The correlated metadata will provide for searchable data in the mediafile collection application database, thus, allowing for the media filesto be readily searched based on information associated with the file,the slave device from which it was transmitted and/or the calendar eventassociated with the file.

Similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 and described above, oncethe external media file collection application has collected mediafiles, the media file collection application will assemble acomprehensive media file collection related to the event that includesall, or a portion of, the media files associated with the event. In thisregard, the user of media file collection application can edit the mediafiles to augment the media files or eliminate certain media files fromthe comprehensive media file collection. The media file collectionapplication may be configured to automatically or by request communicatethe comprehensive media file collection to one of the bonded slavedevices, a portion of the bonded slave devices or all of the bondedslave devices. Stage 6.1 of the FIG. 6 embodiment indicates the processof sharing (i.e., communicating) the collected and edited media filesfrom the master device to the slave devices according to the sharinginformation of Stage 3.

Alternatively, the media file collection may be communicated to othernon-bonded devices 50 based on configuration of the master device,master device user request or as requested by a bonded slave device atStage 3. Stage 6.0 of the FIG. 6 embodiment indicates the process ofsharing (i.e., communicating) the collected and edited media files toother non-bonded devices, such as a PC, PDA, server, mobile telephone,etc.

FIGS. 7A-7C are flow diagrams of various methods for bonding a masterdevice to one or more slave devices, in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention.

The bonding method of FIG. 7A begins at step 100, at which the masterdevice monitors the immediate environment for potential new slavedevices. Monitoring the immediate environment involves the master devicereceiving presence information that has been transmitted by one or moreslave devices in the immediate vicinity/environment. Digital signaltransmission may be in accordance with any chosen wireless communicationmedium, such as short-range radio network (i.e., Bluetooth®), WLAN,RFID, wireless telecom network or the like. The area of interest willtypically be defined by the range of the chosen wireless communicationmedium.

At step 110, once the master device receives a presence signal, themaster device determines if the signaling device is a new device. Thesignaling device may be a device that was previously accepted (i.e.,bonded) or a device that was previously rejected as not been suitablefor binding. In either of these instances the signaling device isconsidered to be not new. The master device checks both the accept andthe reject storage lists to determine if the signaling device is new. Ifthe device is determined to not be new, the flow returns to step 100 forfurther monitoring of the area.

If the signaling device is determined to be a new device then, at step120, the master device will send a bond request and media file transferparameters to the potential slave device. Examples of media fileparameters are provided above in the detailed description related toFIG. 4. At step 130, once the potential slave device receives the bondrequest and media file transfer parameters, the potential slave devicewill respond with information related the bonding capabilities of thepotential slave device.

At step 140, the master device will analyze the bonding capabilities ofthe potential slave device to determine the whether the potential slavedevice fulfills the requirements for media file transfer (i.e.,bonding). Bonding approval may be based on the slave device's capabilityto provide certain types of media files and the slave device's networkand transmission capabilities. If the slave device does not fulfill therequirements then at step 150, a rejection notice is communicated to thepotential slave device alerting the user of the potential slave devicethat bonding of the devices has been rejected. In addition, at step 160,the master device adds the rejected potential slave device to the storedlist of “monitored slave devices” and identifies the device with areject attribute.

If the master device approves of the bonding of the potential slavedevice the, at step 170, the information related to the approved slavedevice is added to the stored list of “monitored slave devices” andidentifies the device as being approved for bonding. The relatedinformation may include the device type, device technical features,device user identification, duration of bonding period and the like.After the device has been approved, at step 180, the slave deviceinformation and slave-user information are correlated/combined withevent-specific metadata information to create combined slavedevice/event metadata. The routine then returns to step 100, for furthermonitoring of the immediate environment.

Additionally, once the slave device is bonded to the master device itmay communicate information to the master device concerning how, whenand where the master device should communicate the comprehensivecollection of media files that it assembles from all of the bondeddevices. For example, the slave device may desire that the collection ofmedia files be sent to the slave device itself, as well as, to asecondary non-bonded device. In addition, the bonded slave device maysend information to the master device related to collection editingparameters, i.e., requesting that certain media files be omitted oraugmented before the master device communicates the collection to theslave device or to the slave-device designated non-bonded device.

In alternate, embodiments of the bonding process described in FIG. 7A itmay be possible for the potential slave devices to evaluate the requestfrom the master device for bonding, assess bonding capabilities and tocommunicate the results of the evaluation to the master device.Additionally, it may possible for the potential slave device to rejectthe bonding request, if the potential slave device does not desire thecollection of media files that will be assembled and disseminated by themaster device or an intermediary device.

An alternate method for bonding is described by the flow diagram of FIG.7B, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At step200, the master device monitors the immediate environment for potentialnew slave devices. Monitoring the immediate environment involves themaster device receiving presence information that has been transmittedby one or more slave devices in the immediate vicinity/environment.

At step 210, once the master device receives a presence signal, themaster device determines if the signaling device is a new device. Thesignaling device may be a device that was previously accepted (i.e.,bonded) or a device that was previously rejected as not been suitablefor binding. In either of these instances the signaling device isconsidered to be not new. The master device checks both the accept andthe reject storage lists to determine if the signaling device is new. Ifthe device is determined to not be new, the flow returns to step 200 forfurther monitoring of the area.

If the signaling device is determined to be a new device then, at step220, the master device will send a request to the potential slave deviceasking for the potential slave device's bonding capabilities. At step230, the potential slave device will respond with a communication to themaster device informing the master device of their bond capabilities.

At step 240, once the master device receives the bond capabilityinformation from the potential slave device, the master device analyzesthe response to determine if the potential slave device fulfills therequirements for media file transfer. If the slave device does notfulfill the requirements then at step 250, a rejection notice iscommunicated to the potential slave device alerting the user of thepotential slave device that bonding of the devices has been rejected. Inaddition, the master device adds the rejected potential slave device tothe stored list of “monitored slave devices” and identifies the devicewith a reject attribute.

If the master device approves of the bonding of the potential slavedevice the, at step 270, the master device communicates the bondinginformation and the media file transfer parameters to the slave deviceand the approved slave device is added to the stored list of “monitoredslave devices”.

After the device has been approved, at step 280, the slave device andslave-user information are correlated/combined with event-specificmetadata information to create combined slave device/event metadata. Theroutine then returns to step 200, for further monitoring of theimmediate environment.

In alternate, embodiments of the bonding process described in FIG. 7B itmay be possible for the potential slave device to reject the bondingrequest, if the potential slave device does not desire the collection ofmedia files that will be assembled and disseminated by the master deviceor an intermediary device.

Another method for bonding is described by the flow diagram of FIG. 7C,in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At step 300,the master device monitors the immediate environment for potential newslave devices. Monitoring the immediate environment involves the masterdevice receiving presence information that has been transmitted by oneor more slave devices in the immediate vicinity/environment.

At step 310, once the master device receives a presence signal, themaster device determines if the signaling device is a new device. Thesignaling device may be a device that was previously accepted (i.e.,bonded) or a device that was previously rejected as not been suitablefor binding. In either of these instances the signaling device isconsidered to be not new. The master device checks both the accept andthe reject storage lists to determine if the signaling device is new. Ifthe device is determined to not be new, the flow returns to step 300 forfurther monitoring of the area.

If the signaling device is determined to be a new device then, at step320, the master device will send a bond request and media file transferparameters to the potential slave device. At step 330, once thepotential slave device receives the bond request and media file transferparameters, the potential slave device will analyze the request andparameters to determine if the slave device fulfills the requirementsfor bonding.

If the slave device does not fulfill the requirements then at step 340,a rejection notice is communicated to the master device alerting theuser of the master device that bonding of the potential slave device hasbeen rejected. In addition, the master device adds the rejectedpotential slave device to the stored list of “monitored slave devices”and identifies the device with a reject attribute.

If the slave device approves of the bonding then, at step 350, the slavedevice communicates an approval notice to the master device and themaster device adds the approved slave device to the stored list of“monitored slave devices and identifies the device in the list with anapproval attribute.

After the device has been approved, at step 360, the slave device andslave-user information are correlated/combined with event-specificmetadata information to create combined slave device/event metadata. Theroutine then returns to step 300, for further monitoring of theimmediate environment.

Additionally, once the slave device is bonded to the master device itmay communicate information to the master device concerning how, whenand where the master device should communicate the comprehensivecollection of media files that it assembles from all of the bondeddevices. For example, the slave device may desire that the collection ofmedia files be sent to the slave device itself, as well as, to asecondary non-bonded device. In addition, the bonded slave device maysend information to the master device related to collection editingparameters, i.e., requesting that certain media files be omitted oraugmented before the master device communicates the collection to theslave device or to the slave-device designated non-bonded device.

In alternate embodiments of the bonding process described in FIG. 7C itmay be possible for the potential slave device to reject the bondingrequest, if the potential slave device does not desire the collection ofmedia files that will be assembled and disseminated by the master deviceor an intermediary device.

The invention is also embodied in a method for correlating and/orcompiling metadata information of media files, bonded slave devices andcalendar events. Slave devices may include a media capture device, apresence device or a sensor device.

Examples of media capture devices include, digital cameras, cellular ormobile telephones equipped with cameras, digital camcorders, digitalaudio recording devices and the like. The media capture devices arecapable of creating metadata information and including the createdmetadata in the media file. The creation of metadata by the capturingdevice may be automatic, upon creation of the media file, or themetadata may be inputted manually by the device user. Examples ofmetadata information created by a capturing device include, the type ofmedia capture device, the technical features of the media capturedevice, identification of the user of the media capture device, title ofthe media file, event related to the media file, date and/or time themedia file was created, location of the media capture event.

Presence devices are devices without media capture capability or theability to transfer/communicate media files wirelessly. Presence devicesinform the master device of their presence in the immediate environmentfor inclusion in the master device's presence listing and inform themaster device of a destination address for the collected media files.Examples of information transmitted by the presence device includedevice user identification, event information and information related todestination addresses for communication the collected media files. Thisinformation may be referred to as the metadata information associatedwith the presence device. Alternately, the presence device may informthe master device that they desire not to be included on the masterdevice's presence list. Examples of presence devices include mobile orcellular telephones, PDAs or the like.

Sensors are devices that monitor the immediate environment, such asthermometers, movement sensors, location sensors or the like. As such,examples of sensor communicated information include, weather,temperature, air pressure, location and the like. This information maybe referred to as the metadata information associated with the sensordevices.

As a means of defining the required metadata information, the masterdevice may communicate to the slave devices, in particular the mediacapturing slave device, instructions requesting what information is torequired to be collected as metadata in the media files. Typically, thiscommunication will be in unison with communication from the masterdevice to the slave device of media file transfer parameters. Thecreation of the instructions by the master device may be automatic ormanual (i.e., requiring user input). Examples of master device requestedinformation includes, the event name, the time and date of the mediafile capture, the location of the event, and the like.

The media capture devices will create (i.e., capture) media events andmetadata will either be automatically created at the time of capture orinputted manually by the user of the device. Prior to transmitting themedia file to the master device or to an intermediary device additionalmetadata type information may be added. Examples of additional metadatatype information include metadata previously communicated by the masterdevice and information related to destination address(es) for thecollected media files (i.e., a request to communicate the collectedmedia files to a non-bonded device).

Once the master device or the intermediary device receive the mediafiles and associated metadata the master device may add to the receivedmedia file metadata information additional event specific metadata suchas, event title, data and time of event, sensor information, list ofbonded devices at the event, time of receipt and/or transmission of themedia file, information related to further communication of thecollected media files and the like.

The master device or the intermediary device may then communicate themedia files with associated metadata to an optional media filecollection application. As discussed above the media file collectionapplication may be implemented on the master device or it may beimplemented on an intermediary device that is external to the masterdevice. The optional media file collection application will correlatemetadata of all the media files that it receives during the bondingperiod. In addition, the media file collection application may correlatethe metadata of the media files with associated calendar event metadata.Once correlated, the media file collection application will combine andstore all of the event specific media files and associated metadataitems in a comprehensive collection of media files and master metadatafile. Additionally, the media file collection application may addadditional metadata information to media file metadata and/or the mastermetadata file, such as a bookmark, an annotation, comments, etc. For amore detailed description of a media file collection applicationimplementing bookmarking and annotations, see co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/715,093, filed on Nov. 17, 2003 in the name ofinventors Myka et al., entitled “Bookmarking and Annotating in a MediaDiary Application”. That application is herein incorporated by referenceas if set forth fully herein.

In order to gain a further understanding of the present and,specifically, the media file sharing system implemented in conjunctionwith a media file collection application, the following detaileddescription provides for an example of a media file collectionapplication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.The media file collection application herein disclosed, which isreferred to as the media diary application, is by way of example only.Other media file collection application that possess the capability tocollect and organize media files are also contemplated and are withinthe inventive concepts herein disclosed.

The exemplary media diary application herein disclosed will associatemedia files with a moment of time, period of time or event, so that theuser can manage media files according to a moment of time, period oftime or event. For the sake of brevity and so as to not confuse thereader, the term of “period of time” is used herein to refer to both atime range, as well as, a particular moment in time. Typically, theperiod of time will be a specific date associated with a date that themedia file was created or intended for. For example, if the media fileis an image or video file of a birthday party, the media application maycategorize and store the file according to the date of the birthdayparty and/or the individual having the birthday. For a completedescription of the media diary application see co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/715,093, filed on Nov. 17, 2003, in the name ofinventor Myka et al., and assigned to the same assignee as the presentinvention. That application is herein incorporated by reference as ifset forth fully herein.

The exemplary media diary application described herein, as well as allother media file collection applications that posses the capability tocorrelate media file metadata and slave device metadata, may beimplemented and executed on any electronic communication device thatincorporates a display, such as a portable computer, cellular telephone,personal data assistant (PDA), digital camera, digital camcorder, e-bookdevice, digital audio player or the like. In addition the media filecollection application may be implemented on electronic devices that areconnected to an external display, such as a set-top box (STB), personalvideo recorder (PVR), digital video recorder (DVR) or the like. Thedigital device that executes the media file collection application willbe capable of any type of wireless or wireline network communication,such as wireless telecom, short range radio network, Bluetooth®,Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Radio Frequency Identification(RFID), Internet Protocol Data Casting (IPDC), Digital VideoBroadcasting (DVB), Infrared Data Association (IrDa), Internet or thelike.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the mediafile collection application will be embodied by a computer-readablestorage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored inthe medium. The storage medium will typically be a memory device, suchas flash ROM memory, HDD or the like. The programming instructions maybe written in a standard computer programming language, such as C++,Java or the like. Upon execution by a processing unit as describedbelow, the program instructions will implement the various functions ofthe media file collection application as described below. While theinstructions may be modules, objects or the like that communicate withone another, the first, second and optional third instructions need notbe discrete or separable portions of the program instructions and may beinterspersed throughout if so desired.

FIG. 8 provides examples of displayed views, commonly referred to as ascreen shot that a user of the media diary application will access andinterface with when using the media diary application. FIG. 8illustrates an example of a media diary view 400, which combines acalendar view 500, a media view 600 and a timeline view 700. Asdepicted, the calendar view 500 is displayed on the right-hand side ofthe digital device's display, the media view 600 is displayed on theleft-hand side of the display and the timeline view features aredisplayed above both the calendar view and the media view. Horizontalscrolling within the media diary application may provide for the displayof a full media view and corresponding timeline view (i.e., absent acalendar view) or for the display of a full calendar view andcorresponding timeline (i.e., absent a media view). The dates ofinterest will dictate whether the user views a calendar view, typicallyfuture dates, a media view, typically prior dates or a combined mediaview and calendar view, typically future dates and prior dates in closeproximity to the current date.

The calendar view 500 portion of the overall media diary view 400provides for the entry of calendar events or reminders and provides theuser with a daily planner application, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention. It is noted that the calendar view hereindepicted and described is by way of example only; other calendar viewsthat provide for the display of calendar events or reminders are alsocontemplated and within the inventive concepts herein disclosed.Alternatively, the calendar view may be generated by another calendar orpersonal planner application, in which case, the calendar view isimported into the media diary application from the auxiliary calendarapplication.

The calendar view 500 includes date columns 510, which correspond to aspecific date. In the example shown, three date columns are visible onthe display corresponding to the current date (i.e., Wednesday, 19 June)and the subsequent two dates. Typically, upon activation of the calendarview the current date will be displayed in the left-hand column of thecalendar view with columns for the subsequent dates positionedsequentially to the right. As will be apparent, the calendar view may bedifferently oriented, such as with rows as opposed to columns or thecurrent date may be displayed in the right hand column, if so desired.In an alternate embodiment the calendar view may include columns 510,which may correspond to any moment of time, such as year, month, day,hour or the like. Additionally upon activation of the calendar view thecurrent moment of time may be displayed on the middle of the view.

The date columns 510 include multiple time blocks 520, which provide adescriptive area for information related to calendar events 530. In theembodiment shown, the time blocks correspond to one-hour time blocks,although the blocks may be for other lengths of time, such as 30-minuteblocks. Further, for example if a column represents a year, the timeblock 520 may represent a month. The calendar view will be verticallyscrollable, so that, all of the time blocks for a date column will beviewable by the user. In addition, the calendar view will typically behorizontally scrollable to provide for a view of other date or timecolumns 510. In addition, the time blocks may include reminder icons540, which provide the media diary user a visual reminder related to anupcoming calendar event. For example in the depicted embodiment, thecamera icon reminds the user that calendared event requires or willbenefit from a having a camera on-hand.

The information related to calendar events 530 will typically beinputted by the user and include information, such as title of theevent, topic of the event, date and time of the event, location of theevent, individuals attending the event and the like. A calendar eventmay be inputted by activating, via keystroke or mouse-type input signal,the time block associated with the event. Upon activation, a window orview is made visible that allows for the user to input informationrelated to the event. Once the calendar event has been inputted and textdisplayed in the time block, the details of the calendar events may beaccessible by activating, via keystroke or mouse-type input signal, thecalendar event. In addition to manually inputting calendar events, themedia diary may import calendar events from other sources orapplications that are being executed on the digital device, such as fromother, internal or external, personal planner or calendar applications,email systems or the like.

Further, the information related to a calendar event 530 createsmetadata information related to the calendar event or reminder. Themetadata related to the calendar event will be correlated with metadataassociated with media files related to the calendar event. In thisregard, the media diary is able to automatically associate a media filewith and an event and create comprehensive metadata for the media file.In addition, the present invention may correlate the metadata associatedwith the slave device that created and/or communicated the media file tothe master device (i.e., the device implementing the media diaryapplication). The comprehensive metadata provides a searchable databasefor locating the media file within the media diary.

The time blocks 520 may include a time now identifier 550 that may beaccentuated in bold-faced type or other way graphically accentuated inthe time block that includes the current time. The time now identifierserves to indicate the current moment of time. The time now identifierwill be an active identifier that displays the current time, in hour andminutes, and moves forward to the next time block with the passage oftime. In addition, the calendar view 500 may graphically distinguishbetween time blocks and calendar events that are in the past and timeblocks and calendar events that are in the future. In the illustratedexample, time blocks and events in the past are designated by italicizedtext and time blocks and events in the future are designated bynon-italicized, standard text. As the time now identifier moves to thenext time block to indicate the passage of time, the distinguishinggraphics of the time blocks and calendar events will also change toindicate the proper time state.

The media view 600 portion of the media diary view 400 provides fordigital media files, such as digital images, digital video, digitalaudio, computer games, computer software, digital text files, emails,short message service (SMS) messages, multimedia message service (MMS)messages or the like, to be accessible to the media diary user, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Typically themedia files that are represented in the media view will be associated toa past calendar event or past reminder. It is noted that the media viewherein depicted and described is by way of example only; other mediaviews that provide for the display of media file representations inassociation with a moment of time or a time period are also contemplatedand within the inventive concepts herein disclosed. Alternatively, themedia files that are represented in the media view may be associatedwith a moment or period of time based on a timestamp in the media file,without having noted an event related to the media file, in advance, inthe calendar view or application.

The media view of the illustrated embodiment includes date columns 610,which correspond to a specific date, although the media view may bedifferently oriented if so desired. In the example shown, four datecolumns are visible on the display corresponding to the four previousdates. In an alternate embodiment the media view may include columns610, which may correspond to any moment of time, such as a year, amonth, a week, a day, an hour or the like. The date columns will includemedia file representations 620 that are related to media files and areconnected, in time, to the specific date, event and/or time. Forexample, the media file representations may include representations thatprovide the user with access to digital files, such as video files,image files, audio files, computer games, computer software, text files,emails, short message service (SMS) messages, multimedia message service(MMS) messages and the like and provide the user with informationpertaining to the content of the files. The media file representationsmay include an icon, or a thumbnail image, a portion of the text of atext document or message or any other suitable media file representationwith or without a title of the media file.

Typically, the media diary will receive the media file from a digitalrecording function associated with the device or via digitalcommunication from other devices. For example:

-   -   1) If the digital device is a cellular telephone that        incorporates a digital camera or any other digital device that        serves as a digital recording device, a digital media file        (i.e., image) may be communicated directly via cellular        telephone access from the camera/telephone device to the media        diary in another device.    -   2) If the digital device is an independent digital camera or any        other digital recording/storing/playing device and equipped with        a wireless or wireline network connection the digital media file        may be communicated directly from networked device to a media        diary in another device.    -   3) If the digital device is an independent digital camera or any        other digital recording/storing/playing device and equipped with        short range digital communication means the digital media file        may communicated first to a long range digital communication        device (i.e. cellular telephone, a PDA, laptop computer or the        like) that then passes the files to another device with a media        diary. Alternatively, in proximity, a file transfer may occur        directly to another device with a media diary.    -   4) The media files may be communicated by a physical memory        unit/device transferred from one device to another device.

As such, the digital recording/storing/playing device from which themedia file is communicated (i.e., the passing device) may include, andimplement, the media diary application or may not include the mediadiary application. If the passing device includes the media diaryapplication, the media files may be processed for media diary purposesprior to communication to other devices.

The communication/synchronization of the media files may be automaticafter a creation of a new media file, or after a certain amount of mediafiles have been created. Alternatively, the communication may occur at aselected time or on a request of a user and may include a single mediafile or a group of media files. The communication/synchronization mayoccur via any wireless or wireline network communication method, such asfor example via SMS, MMS or file transfer. The communication, i.e.synchronization, may also occur from a back end media diaryapplication/device to any digital recording/storing/playing device withor without the media diary application.

The media file will typically have associated metadata, in the form of atimestamp, event name, file name, location information, people in theevent or in the media file, objects in the media file, file type, filesize or the like. The media file metadata may be automatically inputtedby the digital recording device at the time of the creation of the mediafile or may be manually inputted, such as at the time of creation of themedia file or receipt or transfer of the media file. In addition, it ispossible for the metadata to previously exist in conjunction with acalendar event in the media diary and to be associated with the digitalmedia file at the moment the file is created, if the device creating themedia file executes the media diary application.

Once the media diary receives the media file, the media file metadata iscombined and/or correlated with the calendar event metadata information,i.e., the date and time, the name of the event or the like. The combinedand/or correlated metadata information is associated and stored with themedia file in the media diary, such that, when a user accesses the mediafile via the media file representation in the media view the user willbe presented with the combined metadata and calendar event information.See for example, media file representations 620, in which, a thumbnailimage is combined with a title and text entry.

Additionally, media files forming or related to a specific joint group,e.g. based on a specific event or a time period, will be placed in themedia view in a joint group 630 under a common title or subject. Thejoint group heading is typically implemented in the present invention,when the master device assembles a comprehensive media file collectionof an event. In the present invention the joint group may be acollection of event related media files received from various slavedevices during a bonding period.

As discussed above, once the media diary assembles the collection, themedia diary application may be configured to automatically disseminatethe media file collection to one or more of the slave devices. The titleor subject of the joint group may be manually inputted or may beinherited from metadata related to a calendar event or reminder, or,exclusively, from metadata related to the media file. The last optionbecomes relevant if the media file does not have a correspondence eventor reminder in the associated calendar application.

The timeline view 700 portion of the media diary view 400 provides for atime bar 710 and a time handle 720. The timeline view will be generatedby the computer-readable program instructions as implemented inassociation with a digital device. It is noted that the timeline viewherein depicted and described is by way of example only; other timelineviews that provide for the display of a timeline in combination with amedia view and a calendar view are also contemplated and within theinventive concepts herein disclosed.

The time handle 720 allows the media diary to be scrolled forward intime and backward in time. As depicted, the calendar view 500 displaysthe current date, indicated by a current time identifier 550, and thetwo subsequent dates, for example. The media view 600 displays the fourprevious dates, for example. The time handle is associated with thecenter most column, that is, in the depicted example, the columnassociated with the previous day, i.e. Tuesday 18, June. If the timehandle is moved from the stationary position to the left, the calendarview, media view and, in some instances the time bar will scroll to theright, such that, more past dates in the media view will be scrolled anddisplayed. Moving the time handle to the left, such that more past datesin the media view are scrolled and displayed will eventually cause thecalendar view to be scrolled out of the timeline view. If the timehandle is moved from the stationary position to the right, the calendarview, the media view and, in some instances the time bar will scroll tothe left, such that, more future dates in the calendar view will bedisplayed. Moving the time handle to the right, such that more futuredates in the calendar view are scrolled and displayed will eventuallycause the media view to be scrolled out of the timeline view.

The stationary position may be any predefined position relative to thedisplay, but is usually in the centerline of the media diary display, orin the centerline of the time bar, or, alternatively, in the centerlineof the media view. Alternatively, both media view and calendar view mayhave their own media handles (not shown in the figure), and they may bescrolled independently.

The time bar 710 allows the device user to focus in on specific dates.In the example shown, the bold cased blocks 730 may indicate weeks andthe individual vertical lines 740 within the blocks may indicate rangesfor specific dates on which media files currently exist. A space betweenthe ranges indicates the amount of media files associated or stored on aspecific date. Different days may be graphically altered, e.g. bydifferent shading and/or color, to distinguish them from each other. Forexample, every second day may have dark shading and every third day mayhave light shading. Different weeks may also be graphically altered,e.g. by different shading and/or color, to distinguish them from eachother.

As previously noted, other media diary applications that provide thecapability of correlating metadata from amongst media files, slavedevices and/or calendar events and provide for creation anddissemination of a comprehensive media file collection are also withinthe inventive concepts herein disclosed and may be implemented inconjunction with the media file sharing system of the present invention.

Thus, the present invention provides for a system for bonding deviceswithin the general vicinity of one another and communicating media filesfrom one device to another, such that the communicated media files canbe assembled in a collection and the metadata associated with thedevices and the files can be correlated and combined in a mastermetadata file. The collection of media files and/or master metadata filecan then be communicated back to the bonded device or communicated toother non-bonded devices.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least onememory including computer program code, the at least one memory and thecomputer program code configured to, with the at least one processor,cause the apparatus to at least perform: monitoring an area of interestfor the presence of potential bondable devices; receiving a presencesignal from a potential bondable device; determining bond capability ofthe potential bondable device; approving the potential bondable deviceas a bonded device; and providing for communication to the bonded deviceof media file transfer parameters, including definition of the mediafile metadata that is to be included with a captured media file.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computerprogram code are configured to, with the at least one processor, causethe apparatus to provide for communication to the bonded device of mediafile transfer parameters during the bond approval process.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computerprogram code are configured to, with the at least one processor, causethe apparatus to provide for communication to the bonded device of mediafile transfer parameters after the bond approval process.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computerprogram code are configured to, with the at least one processor, causethe apparatus to provide for communication to the bonded device of mediafile transfer parameters including one or more destination addresses forcommunicating captured media files.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to,with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to provide forcommunication to the bonded device of media file transfer parametersincluding one or more destination addresses for communicating capturedmedia files, wherein at least one of the destination addresses is amaster device address.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at leastone memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the atleast one processor, cause the apparatus to provide for communication tothe bonded device of media file transfer parameters including one ormore destination addresses for communicating captured media files,wherein at least one of the destination addresses is an intermediarydevice address.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least onememory and the computer program code are configured to, with the atleast one processor, cause the apparatus to determine a bond capabilityof the potential bondable device at a master device.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codeare configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatusto determine a bond capability of the potential bondable device at thepotential bondable device.
 9. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the atleast one memory and the computer program code are configured to, withthe at least one processor, cause the apparatus to approve the potentialbondable device for bonding at a master device.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program codeare configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatusto approve the potential bondable device for bonding at the potentialbondable device.
 11. An apparatus comprising at least one processor andat least one memory including computer program code, the at least onememory and the computer program code configured to, with the at leastone processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform: bonding a slavedevice to a master device according to predetermined media file transferparameters communicated to the slave device from the master device; andcommunicating a plurality of media files from the bonded device to themaster device, the plurality of media files having metadata informationas defined by the predetermined media file transfer parameters.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one memory and the computerprogram code are configured to, with the at least one processor, furthercause the apparatus to combine, at the master device, the plurality ofmedia files into a master media file.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code areconfigured to, with the at least one processor, further cause theapparatus to provide for communication of the master media file to oneor more of the slave devices.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein theat least one memory and the computer program code are configured to,with the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to providefor communication of the master media file to one or more non-bondeddevices.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one memoryand the computer program code are configured to, with the at least oneprocessor, further cause the apparatus to combine, at the master device,the metadata information of the plurality of media files into a mastermetadata file.
 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least onememory and the computer program code are configured to, with the atleast one processor, further cause the apparatus to record, at themaster device, metadata information related to the one or more bondeddevices.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one memoryand the computer program code are configured to, with the at least oneprocessor, further cause the apparatus to correlate, at the masterdevice, the bonded device metadata information with the media filemetadata information.
 18. An apparatus comprising at least one processorand at least one memory including computer program code, the at leastone memory and the computer program code configured to, with the atleast one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform: bondingone or more remote devices to a master device according to predeterminedmedia file transfer parameters; recording bonded device metadatainformation; receiving a media file from one or more of the bondedremote devices, the media file having associated media file metadatainformation; and providing for communication of the media file, themedia file metadata and the bonded device metadata information to one ormore of the bonded devices or to another remote device.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one memory and the computerprogram code are configured to, with the at least one processor, furthercause the apparatus to combine the bonded device metadata informationand the media file metadata information.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18,wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code areconfigured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus tobond one or more remote devices to a master device according topredetermined media file transfer parameters that include criteria forbonding a device.
 21. A computer program product comprising at least onecomputer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program codeportions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portionscomprising: program code instructions for monitoring an area of interestfor the presence of potential bondable devices; program codeinstructions for receiving a presence signal from a potential bondabledevice; program code instructions for determining bond capability of thepotential bondable device; program code instructions for approving thepotential bondable device as a bonded device; and program codeinstructions for providing for communication to the bonded device ofmedia file transfer parameters, including definition of the media filemetadata that is to be included with a captured media file.
 22. Thecomputer program product of claim 21, wherein the program codeinstructions for providing for communication to the bonded device ofmedia file transfer parameters further provide for the communication tooccur during the bond approval process.
 23. The computer program productof claim 21, wherein the program code instructions for providing forcommunication to the bonded device of media file transfer parametersfurther provide for the communication to occur after the bond approvalprocess.
 24. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein theprogram code instructions for providing for communication to the bondeddevice of media file transfer parameters further provide for thecommunication of one or more destination addresses for communicatingcaptured media files.
 25. The computer program product of claim 21,wherein the program code instructions for providing for communication tothe bonded device of media file transfer parameters further provide forthe communication of one or more destination addresses for communicatingcaptured media files, wherein at least one of the destination addressesis the master device address.
 26. The computer program product of claim21 wherein the program code instructions for providing for communicationto the bonded device of media file transfer parameters further providefor the communication of one or more destination addresses forcommunicating captured media files, wherein at least one of thedestination addresses is an intermediary device address.
 27. Thecomputer program product of claim 21, wherein the program codeinstructions for determining a bond capability of the potential bondabledevice further cause determination to occur at the master device. 28.The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the program codeinstructions for determining a bond capability of the potential bondabledevice further cause determination to occur at the potential bondabledevice.
 29. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein theprogram code instructions for approving the potential bondable devicefor bonding further cause approval to occur at the master device. 30.The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the program codeinstructions for approving the potential bondable device for bondingfurther cause approval to occur at the potential bondable device.
 31. Acomputer program product comprising at least one computer-readablestorage medium having computer-executable program code portions storedtherein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising:program code instructions for bonding a slave device to a master deviceaccording to predetermined media file transfer parameters communicatedto the slave device from the master device; and program codeinstructions for providing for communication of a plurality of mediafiles from the one or more bonded devices to the master device, theplurality of media files having metadata information as defined by thepredetermined media file transfer parameters.
 32. The computer programproduct of claim 31, further comprising program code instructions forcombining, at the master device, the plurality of media files into amaster media file.
 33. The computer program product of claim 32, furthercomprising computer code instructions for providing for communication ofthe master media file to one or more of the slave devices.
 34. Thecomputer program product of claim 32, further comprising computer codeinstructions for providing for communication of the master media file toone or more non-bonded devices.
 35. The computer program product ofclaim 31, further comprising computer code instructions for combining,at the master device, the metadata information of the plurality of mediafiles into a master metadata file.
 36. The computer program product ofclaim 31, further comprising computer code instructions for recording,at the master device, metadata information related to the one or morebonded devices.
 37. The computer program product of claim 36, furthercomprising computer code instructions for correlating, at the masterdevice, the bonded device metadata information with the media filemetadata information.
 38. A computer program product comprising at leastone computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable programcode portions stored therein, the computer-executable program codeportions comprising: program code instructions for bonding one or moreremote devices to a master device according to predetermined media filetransfer parameters; program code instructions for recording bondeddevice metadata information; program code instructions for receiving amedia file from one or more of the bonded remote devices, the media filehaving associated media file metadata information; and program codeinstructions for providing for communication of the media file, themedia file metadata and the bonded device metadata information to one ormore of the bonded devices or to another remote device.
 39. The computerprogram product of claim 38, further comprising program codeinstructions for combining the bonded device metadata information andthe media file metadata information.
 40. The computer program product ofclaim 38, wherein the program code instructions for bonding one or moreremote devices to a master device according to predetermined media filetransfer parameters rely upon the predetermined media file transferparameters that include criteria for bonding a device.